And so began a year that included a total of about 8 weeks on crutches, 9 months of physical therapy, no running, rebuilding muscle, and regaining flexibility. I am by no means at 100% yet (and perhaps I never will be), but I am so thankful to be as far on the road of recovery as I am. And I commemorated the year anniversary of the injury by doing a hiking/backpacking trip (22 miles total) on the Pacific Crest Trail with the Squirrel.
As I reflect back on the past year, although I do not understand how or why the injury happened, I can definitely see some things that God has taught me through it.
First, He taught me HUMILITY. I have always been the person on a hike who has been out in front leading the group or who still has more energy left even at the end of a hike. But this year, I have had to learn to be okay with saying, "I can't go any farther." Or "I don't think I can do that." This has been a very hard lesson for me to learn, and I still don't think that I have completely learned it. But it has also taught me more about COMPASSION. I now know what it is like to be unable to do the things that I want to do or need to do. I know what it's like to have to rely on other people because I am not physically able to open the door for myself or carry my own food, which definitely helps me to empathize with others whom I see on crutches or who may have other physical ailments or may not be as strong as I am. And since I wasn't able to do so much for myself, I definitely learned more about SELFLESS LOVE in Liam's self-sacrificing spirit. He put my socks and shoes on for me when I couldn't bend my leg enough to reach my feet; he helped me into the shower when I couldn't do so myself; he did the grocery shopping; he drove me to and from work and doctor's appointments; he put off his own surgery and endured his own pain because he was taking care of me. And I could go on and on. Thank you to Liam for all that you did and do for me, and thank you to God for giving me such a great husband.
Finally, I have also grown in HEAVENLY MINDEDNESS this past year. Having a physical injury has made me think more about how temporary our physical bodies are, and knowing that I may never get back to 100% again makes me glad that I have a heavenly body to which I can look forward. I think that God sometimes removes the earthly things from us to help us to focus more on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. And that thought brings JOY.
So thankful for all you have learned and for how far you have come! Thankful for your self-sacrificing husband too.
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